7 Worst 80s Snack Foods That We All Pretend to Love

The 1980s brought us many memorable trends, and snack foods were no exception. But not every snack was a hit, even if nostalgia makes them seem better than they were. From odd flavors to questionable textures, these 80s snacks were far from great, no matter how much we pretended to enjoy them.

1. Hostess Pudding Pies

Hostess Pudding Pies sounded like a great idea—a pie with creamy pudding filling. In reality, they were a sugary mess. The heavy crust felt dry, and the artificial pudding inside left much to be desired. Kids loved them, but it’s likely because they didn’t know any better.

What really made these pies problematic was their waxy coating. It felt like biting into a layer of plastic before hitting the overly sweet filling. Looking back, it’s hard to see why anyone thought these would be a good on-the-go treat.

2. Soda-Licious Fruit Snacks

These carbonated fruit snacks aimed to combine the taste of soda with candy. While the concept was fun, the execution fell flat. They were sticky, overly sweet, and had a strange fizzy texture. Despite the soda branding, the flavors didn’t resemble any drink you’d want to sip.

The aftertaste was equally unpleasant. Kids in the 80s might have begged for them because of the cool packaging, but the snack itself was more of a letdown. Soda-Licious failed to capture the essence of what made soda enjoyable in the first place.

3. Kudos Granola Bars

Kudos Granola Bars were marketed as a healthier snack option. However, the amount of chocolate coating and candy mix-ins made them far more like a dessert than a granola bar. While they tasted good, pretending they were nutritious was a bit of a stretch.

With candy pieces like M&Ms and Snickers involved, these bars were more of a sugary trap than a healthy treat. Still, the glossy ads convinced people that they were better than they actually were—another example of style over substance.

4. Giggles Cookies

Giggles Cookies were marketed with a playful smiley face on every cookie, but they didn’t taste as happy as they looked. The chocolate and vanilla sandwich cookie concept was solid, but the taste was lackluster. The cream filling felt cheap, and the cookie itself was often dry.

As fun as the design was, the flavor never matched up to its competition. Oreos and similar cookies outshone Giggles in every way. Despite their smiling faces, these cookies didn’t leave anyone smiling after the first bite.

5. Squeezit Drinks

Squeezit was the ultimate 80s drink for kids, packaged in plastic bottles that you could squeeze. The flavors were bright and artificial, tasting more like candy than actual fruit juice. Despite the fun packaging, the drinks were little more than sugar water with a splash of color.

The appeal of Squeezit came from its interactive bottle, but the taste didn’t hold up. Once you got past the novelty, there was nothing special about these overly sweetened drinks. Still, the vibrant bottles kept kids coming back for more.

6. Carnation Breakfast Bars

Carnation Breakfast Bars were supposed to offer a convenient, healthy breakfast on the go. However, they were essentially a chocolate-covered brick of sugar. The bar was too dense and overly sweet, making it a less-than-ideal start to the day.

Though marketed as a balanced breakfast, these bars failed to live up to the promise of being filling or nutritious. They left many people hungry soon after eating, despite the heavy texture. Looking back, it’s clear they were more candy than breakfast.

7. Bonkers! Fruit Chews

Bonkers! Fruit Chews were promoted as a mind-blowing candy experience, with bold flavors and an extra juicy center. But the texture was bizarre—too hard on the outside and overly sticky on the inside. They may have been popular for a while, but they weren’t exactly tasty.

Though their commercials made them seem exciting, the actual candy was nothing special. Bonkers! may have looked different from other fruit chews, but the taste and experience left much to be desired, making it more of a gimmick than a good snack.